Signal Mountain Happenings

The IRONMAN 70.3 and festivities surrounding it are this weekend. There will be road closures and lots of traffic so the DOT is recommending that spectators and visitors park in the lots and garages surrounding downtown and utilize the Free Electric Shuttle and Bike Chattanooga bike share system. The Electric Shuttle will have extended hours for the IRONMAN 70.3 on Sunday beginning a 5 a.m. There will also be extra shuttles running the route.

Public activities start Friday with a kid's race at noon, and the IRONMAN Expo area will be open on the Chattanooga Green from noon to 7 p.m.

The Tennessee River will be closed to pleasure crafts between Ross's Landing and the Chickamauga Dam from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 22. This includes the Rivermont Park and Tennessee Riverpark boat ramps.

Ironman starts early Sunday morning with the swim portion at 6:50 a.m., and athletes will be transitioning to the bike race from about 7 until 9 a.m. Traffic will be stopped from crossing the cyclists' lane when they are present between 7 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on West 20th Street, Broad Street, Market Street and Alton Park Boulevard. Runners will be on the Riverwalk, Amnicola Highway, the Veterans Bridge, Barton Avenue, Hixson Pike and Riverview Road between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Riverside Drive/Riverfront Parkway between Aquarium Way and Molly Street, Chestnut Street between Aquarium Way and Riverfront Parkway, and the southbound Veterans Bridge ramp to Riverside Drive will be closed from 9:00 am Wednesday, May 18 until 5 a.m. on Monday, May 23 for the IRONMAN 70.3 setup and race.

River Street and Heritage Landing Drive from Tampa Street to Heritage Landing will be closed from 4 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 22 for the IRONMAN 70.3 swim portion.

The right eastbound lane of Riverfront Parkway between Molly Lane and Market Street, the right southbound lane of Market Street between West 20th Street and West 40th Street, and the I-24 on ramp and South bound off ramp at Market Street will be closed and all streets crossing this route will be controlled by CPD officers. Additionally, between 6 a.m. to approximately 9:30 a.m., Southbound Market Street from 20th Street to 40th Street will be closed to all traffic and Northbound Alton Park Boulevard, from 40th Street to West 33rd will be closed. Please follow the detour maps posted for alternate routes around this closure. The intersections of St. Elmo Avenue at West 42nd Street and Tennessee Avenue and West 45th Street will be a four-way Stop from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 for the IRONMAN 70.3 bike portion. Cyclists will also be on West 40th Street and Tennessee Avenue to the state line and riding with traffic.

The right eastbound lane of Frazier Avenue between Forest Avenue and the Veterans Bridge, the right northbound lane of Barton Avenue between Frazier avenue and Baker Street, the right northbound lane of the Veterans Bridge between East 3rd Street and Barton Avenue, the right westbound lane of Amnicola Highway between Old Curtain Pole Road and Lindsay Street, Riverside Drive between Lindsay Street and Molly Lane, the Battery Place off ramp from Riverside Drive, Aquarium Way between Riverside Drive and Walnut Street will be closed and all streets crossing this route will be controlled by CPD officers to give right-of-way to the runners from 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 22 until 1 a.m. on Monday, May 23 for the IRONMAN 70.3 run portion.